Joseph J. Kunkel

I focus on criminal law and OVI / DUI defense as an associate criminal defense attorney at Luftman, Heck & Associates. I joined the firm in June 2013, following my time as an associate attorney at a law firm in Newark, Ohio, and as a law clerk at a law firm in Columbus, Ohio. I graduated from McDonald High School near Youngstown, Ohio, and went on to complete my undergraduate studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. At OU, I majored in Pre-Law, Political Science, and was also a member of the varsity men’s Track and Cross Country teams. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I attended law school at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. During my time at ONU, I earned a certificate of achievement in criminal law and secured first place in the Burke E. Smith mock trial competition. While in law school, I completed judicial externships in Van Wert and Franklin Counties, as well as public defender internships at both the municipal and federal levels. These opportunities allowed me to gain valuable experience, from researching and writing judicial opinions to representing indigent defendants in the courtroom.